Flags & Signs · Texas
Tex. Prop. Code 202.018
Regulation of display of certain religious items
Official text ↗
Checked against the official source on 1 November 2026
At a glance
- Religious items protected
-
HOA cannot ban sincere religious items on property or dwelling
“prohibits a property owner or resident from displaying or affixing on the owner's or resident's property or dwelling one or more religious items”
- Limits the HOA may set
-
HOA may ban items on association-owned or maintained property
“owned or maintained by the property owners' association”
- Limits the HOA may set
-
HOA may ban items attached to traffic devices or utility poles
“attached to a traffic control device, street lamp, fire hydrant, or utility sign, pole, or fixture”
- Religious items protected
-
Sincere religious belief allows display of religious items
“the display of which is motivated by the owner's or resident's sincere religious belief”
- Limits the HOA may set
-
HOA may ban patently offensive non-religious displays
“contains language, graphics, or any display that is patently offensive to a passerby for reasons other than its religious content”
Each fact is shown with the exact words of the statute it comes from. Your association's governing documents may also apply.
Official text
Copy retrieved from statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Always rely on the official source for the current version.
Show the full text of Tex. Prop. Code 202.018
Sec. 202.018. REGULATION OF DISPLAY OF CERTAIN RELIGIOUS ITEMS. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a property owners' association may not enforce or adopt a provision in a dedicatory instrument, including a restrictive covenant, that prohibits a property owner or resident from displaying or affixing on the owner's or resident's property or dwelling one or more religious items the display of which is motivated by the owner's or resident's sincere religious belief.
(b) This section does not prohibit the enforcement or adoption of a provision in a dedicatory instrument, including a restrictive covenant, that, to the extent allowed by the constitution of this state and the United States, prohibits the display or affixing of a religious item on the owner's or resident's property or dwelling that:
(1) threatens the public health or safety;
(2) violates a law other than a law prohibiting the display of religious speech;
(3) contains language, graphics, or any display that is patently offensive to a passerby for reasons other than its religious content;
(4) is installed on property:
(A) owned or maintained by the property owners' association; or
(B) owned in common by members of the property owners' association;
(5) violates any applicable building line, right-of-way, setback, or easement; or
(6) is attached to a traffic control device, street lamp, fire hydrant, or utility sign, pole, or fixture.
(c) Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 196 (S.B. 581), Sec. 2, eff. May 31, 2021, and Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 22(1), eff. September 1, 2021..
(d) Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 196 (S.B. 581), Sec. 2, eff. May 31, 2021, and Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 22(1), eff. September 1, 2021.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 263 (H.B. 1278), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Amended by:
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 196 (S.B. 581), Sec. 1, eff. May 31, 2021.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 196 (S.B. 581), Sec. 2, eff. May 31, 2021.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2021.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1588), Sec. 22(1), eff. September 1, 2021.
The same topic in other jurisdictions
Arizona · A.R.S. 33-1808 Arizona · A.R.S. 33-1261 Florida · Fla. Stat. 720.304 Florida · Fla. Stat. 718.113 Illinois · 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 160/1-70 Illinois · 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 605/18.6 Maryland · Md. Code, Real Prop. 11B-111.2 Texas · Tex. Prop. Code 202.012 Virginia · Va. Code 55.1-1820 Washington · Wash. Rev. Code 64.38.033 Washington · Wash. Rev. Code 64.38.034 Washington · Wash. Rev. Code 64.90.510 Compare flags & signs laws side by side →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and Harrington Community is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, contact a licensed attorney or your state bar's lawyer referral service.